[ SHOWGSD-L ] HUNTINGTON BEACH, CA: MANDATORY SPAY/NEUTER/MICROCHIP ORDINANCE

  • From: "Ginger Cleary" <cleary1414@xxxxxxxxxxx>
  • To: "Showgsd-L@Freelists. Org" <showgsd-l@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
  • Date: Sat, 1 Sep 2007 19:45:18 -0400

 Ginger Cleary,Rome, GA  ww.rihadin.com
The essence of Government is power; and power, lodged as it must be in human
hands, will ever be liable to abuse. ? James Madison
Member GSDCA
Member Sawnee Mtn Kennel Club
GA Director Responsible Dog Owners of the Eastern States.

  -----Original Message-----



   http://www.ocregister.com/news/city-animals-dogs-1836723-program-law


  Friday, August 31, 2007
  Pet mandatory neuter, microchip reviewed
  Huntington Beach would be the first city in Orange County to have such an
ordinance.
  By ANNIE BURRIS
  THE ORANGE COUNTY REGISTER


  HUNTINGTON BEACH ? Huntington Beach is the first city in Orange County to
consider a program that would make it mandatory for pet owners to spay,
neuter and microchip their cats and dogs.

  Police Chief Kenneth Small will present a report to City Council on
Tuesday about the costs and requirements associated with the program.

  "The idea is to produce less unwanted animals and therefore less
euthanizing and therefore more cost savings to society," said Councilman
Keith Bohr, who proposed the law. "I hope that by us doing it other Orange
County cities will follow."

  If passed, Huntington Beach would also be the first city in the state to
have such a program and possibly the first government agency in the state to
incorporate both cats and dogs in a microchip mandate, Small said.

  Los Angeles, Santa Cruz and Santa Barbara counties have passed similar
ordinances. In Santa Cruz County, the number of shelter animals has
reportedly decreased 60 percent and the number of animals euthanized has
decreased 75 percent eight years after it adopted its mandatory law.

  During the 2006-07 fiscal year, the Orange County Animal Care Service
impounded about 10,000 stray dogs and about 13,000 stray cats. About 40
percent of the dogs and about 60 percent of the cats were euthanized.

  Opponents say the plan is a needless example of "nanny government" and
that enforcement would be difficult if not impossible.

  "I just don't think it is the council's business or even the state's
business to regulate pet ownership," said Councilman Don Hansen, who was the
only member to vote against researching the program during a vote in April.

  A similar state bill was sidelined in July when a senate committee
directed the bill's assembly sponsor to withdraw the proposal until January
and work with opponents to address their complaints.

  The state bill was proposed by Assemblyman Lloyd Levine, D-Van Nuys, who
said the bill would reduce the number and cost of animals euthanized.


  Animals exempt from the program are law-enforcement dogs, service dogs and
animals that are bred for competition. Veterinarians can also make
exemptions if they decide the sterilization surgery would be unsafe because
of the animal's age or health condition.

  Pet owners whose animals are exempt would be required to pay an increased
fee for animal licensing.

  Civil citations would be issued to owners who do not comply. However, Bohr
said that no citations would be issued for the first year of the program,
which would be more focused on education than enforcement.

  Once the law is enforced, owners would have a 30-day grace period to show
proof of sterilization and microchipping and then would be fined $150. The
penalty would be increased by $50 every 30 days up to a maximum of $500.

  On Tuesday, council will also discuss the following:

  ?The fire department will give a presentation during a study session on
proposed station relocations and decreasing response times.

  ?There will be a public hearing for a zoning amendment on wireless
communication facilities.

  ?A city law on public dressing will be voted on.

  ?There will be a public hearing about the city's budget for the 2007-08
fiscal year.

  City council will meet at 4:30 p.m. Tuesday at City Hall, 2000 Main
Street.

  Contact the writer: aburris@xxxxxxxxxxxxxx or 714-445-6696

  __._,_.___

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